Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
What is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Attention-Deficit Disorder is a disorder in individuals who have difficulty maintaining an attention span because of their limited ability to concentrate and who exhibit impulsive actions. It is a treatable, but not curable complex disorder, which affects approximately three to six percent of the population (Zimmerman XIV). ADHD consists of problems with attention span, impulse control, and activity level. It is not just a matter of being inattentive or overactive. ADHD children tend to behave several years younger than its chronological age. Although there are many characteristics and causes of ADHD, with proper treatment and development an individual diagnosed with this disorder can live a productive and successful life.
How does one know if an individual has Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? Individuals with this particular disorder have a variety of characteristics that help psychologists, psychiatrists, and even neurologists determine if an individual can indeed be diagnosed with this disorder. The task of describing the characteristics of children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is in some ways a difficult one. The attributes are not unusual, but many of the symptoms are present in all children and adults to some degree at some particular. This is important because they require different therapeutic approaches. One characteristic, and probably the most common one is attention span (Wender 10). Young children are relatively lacking in the ability to concentrate and follow through on long and tedious tasks. An ADHD child quickly from activity to activity, and then seems at a loss for things to do. A teacher may report that the student has a problem with paying attention for a long period of time. At home, a mother notices a child does not listen for a long period of time. Parents must hover over the child to get the child to comply with instructions. For example, a parent tells a child once to eat with a fork and its hand, the child complies, but a few seconds later the child is eating with its hands again. Hyperactivity is another sign of a person with ADHD. Not all children are hyperactive, but when hyperactivity is present it is very hard to miss (Wender 12). Many children with ADHD have been excessively active since early infancy. The ADHD child cannot be distinguished on the playground. The child’s top speed is not greater than that of other children (Gordon 4). The difference is that when the ADHD child is requested to turn off his motor, cannot do so for very long. Unlike other children, the ADHD child cannot inhibit activity in the home or the classroom. Hyperactivity is also the first symptom to disappear as the child grows older. Another very frequently described characteristic of ADHD children is impulsivity or pulse impulse control. The ADHD child acts on the spur of the moment. The ADHD acts with out reflection of consideration of the consequences. Impulsivity is also shown in poor planning and judgment. The impulsivity combines with their distractibility to produce untidy rooms, sloppy dress, unfinished assignments, careless reading and writing (Wender 15). Shortness of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are all characteristics of ADHD and there is a cause for each.
While no one really knows what causes ADHD, it is generally agreed by the medical and scientific community that ADHD is biological in nature. Many believe that it results from a chemical imbalance in the brain. The majority of cases of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder appear to be genetically transmitted and chemically produced (Rief 14). Studies show a strong genetic link in the causes of ADHD. A child is 70 percent more likely to have Attention Deficit-Hyperactive Disorder if they have a parent with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder. Approximately half of parents, who have been diagnosed with ADHD themselves, will have a child with the disorder. Heredity, however, is not the only possible cause of ADHD. Generally, children who experience brain trauma during pregnancy, delivery, or immediately after birth, are at a greater risk for ADHD. Alcohol and drug abuse are another possible cause of ADHD. Alcohol and drug abuse during pregnancy can cause poor motor and muscular development and sensory impairment; problems with learning, memory, attention, and problem solving; and problems with mental health and social interactions. Knowing what causes an individual to ADHD positive is the first step in figuring out the most appropriate way to treat and development patients with this disorder.
A wide variety of treatments have been used for ADHD including, but not limited to, various psychotropic medications, psychosocial treatment, dietary management, herbal and homeopathic treatments, biofeedback, meditation, and perceptual stimulation. While there remains considerable controversy over the use of medication, particularly with young children, it continues to be an integral part of most treatment plans. The majority of physicians in the field of ADHD treatment urge that the first step is medication, so that the child can be attentive enough to learn the behavior management techniques and education strategies that they will need. An important non-medical approach used in treating children with ADHD is known as behavior therapy or behavior management. The goal of behavior therapy is to increase the frequency of desirable behavior by increasing the child’s interest in pleasing parents and by providing positive consequences when the child behaves. The second focus of behavioral treatment involves providing your child with positive consequences for behaving in appropriate ways. In addition to using positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior, behavioral treatment also relies on negative consequences or punishment to reduce undesirable behavior.
While behavior modification requires considerable effort on the part of both the parent and the child, it’s most important to avoid the temptation to give up when feeling frustrated or exhausted. With compassion, patience and consistency a person can greatly help a child cope with ADHD. Some ADHD children require a highly specialized school environment. Because ADHD children are easily distracted, school assignments should be broken down into smaller, less complex units and encouragement should be provided as each stage is completed (Rief 8). The child may also need extra help overcoming any associated learning disorders, developing social skills, listening skills, and in task planning, note-taking, and memorization. Clearly communicated rules need to be set which consistently result in immediate consequences. Diet and nutrition has also been linked as a developmental tool for ADHD patients. The subject of diet modification in the treatment of ADHD continues to be controversial. Many parents insist that eliminating certain foods from a child’s diet leads to a significant reduction in ADD symptoms. While it does have it’s supporters, generally, the scientific and medical communities do not recommend diet as a form of development.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a very complex disorder that requires time and patience if it is to be dealt with properly. ADHD children are not and should not be treated as outcast to society, due to the possibility that more one-on-one training may be required in order to remain on “equal ground” with the child’s peers. Parents and teachers should use medicine as the first type of treatment, and evolve as the needed. Although medication helped the chemical balance of one child, but the next child may very well need another approach to ensure proper development. Regardless of the approach used, if not used properly, the child may be affected for life. On the other hand, the child with ADHD can very well be one of the most successful human figures in history. Self-esteem is a major key to success in life. The development of a positive self-concept or healthy self-esteem is extremely important to the happiness and success of children and teenagers.
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